Get creative with your wedding planning thanks to this easy DIY Save the Date idea from SQUARED!

With wedding season kicking into high gear, and my Just (About) Married show coming up next month, it’s no surprise that I’ve got matrimony on the mind. So when my friends at SQUARED, a super cool online photo lab all about preserving our digital memories the old fashion way, reached out about trying some of their new products, I got very excited. You see, when Fernanda started her wedding planning process she commented on how tired she was of the traditional Save the Dates. She wanted something fun and functional – something you could put on the fridge that wouldn’t get buried under takeout menus. Needless to say when I found some amazing magnets from SQUARED, I was inspired. Today’s DIY is perfect for a bride-to-be planning a wedding that stands out from the crowd – read on to learn how you can make these magnetic Save the Dates!

Now, SQUARED has a lot to choose from on their website. I have a photo book from their site full of photos from my trip to Europe last spring, and I love the fact you can print posters using shots straight from your Insta feed. But there’s something so super cute about these puzzle magnets that just deserve a second look. The beauty of these magnets is not only can you make them from photos in your Insta feed (what a fun way to preserve those gorgeous filtered snapshots from your weekend away!) but you can also upload your own designs.

I created this Save the Date in Photoshop, but you can just as easily use a site like Canva to make something similar. Then, head over to SQUARED and upload your design. It’s that easy! The prices are super reasonable and the shipping is free over $30. Want something a little more budget friendly? You can make a smaller “save the date” design that fits onto one of SQUARED’s other magnet templates, available as squares or circles and for low individual prices, which means you can save if you have a big guest list.

Not planning a wedding? That’s the best part – since it’s soooo easy, you could really use it for any kind of occasion. Why not make some memorable thank you puzzle magnets from a first birthday party, or use it for a fun pregnancy announcement or holiday card? There are so many options!

What are you waiting for? Make sure you send us a photo of your finished project – we’re so excited to see what you create <3

You can check “send holiday cards” off your to do list this month thanks to Basic Invite!

Holiday party season is something I look forward to all year. Whether I’m attending or hosting a Christmas party, winter dinner, or New Years soiree, there’s always so much to feel especially grateful for this time of year. Still, it’s easy for a holiday hostess (or partygoer!) to get a little overwhelmed. With a mile long to do list (gift shopping, ingredient list, Christmas cards – oh boy!) and only 31 days to celebrate, you can use all the help you can get this month. After all, the holidays should be about celebrating with friends and family, so we’re here to make sure you spend more time with the people you love and less time on the little details. Skip the stress this season and make your holiday card and invitation checklist a breeze by checking out Basic Invite. Whether you’re looking for Christmas holiday cards to send out to family members, a new twist on dinner party invites (vintage Christmas party invitations anybody?), or even some holiday company party invitations to jazz up your office Christmas party, Basic Invite has you covered.

Basic Invite is like a stationery designer at your fingertips, allowing you to customize your holiday cards or invitations in so many different ways, you’re essentially only limited by your own creativity. They have a ton of different colours to choose from, so if you’re anything like me and have trouble matching your Christmas photos to a standard invite palette, don’t worry: there are over 180 options! It’s the perfect solution for a holiday hostess that wants holiday cards and holiday party invitations to reflect her personal style, without having to spend hours on InDesign when you should be binge watching Hallmark Christmas movies. No matter how picky you are, with over 250 Christmas card and holiday card designs to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find something you love.

My favourite part about Basic Invite is the envelopes – there’s nothing more frustrating then spending a ton of time customizing the perfect card only to have it sent in a boring white envelope. Basic Invite has a huge variety that lets you make sure your holiday cards stand out in the mail the way they should (plus they’re peel and seal, which means goodbye to gross envelope licking!). Not to mention you can take advantage of their address service that lets you easily capture the addresses you need from friends and family across social media – a total life saver where traditional mail isn’t the norm!

If you’re hosting a holiday party this season odds are you have enough on your plate. Make the invitation checklist item a breeze and take advantage of all the options at Basic Invite. Not hosting? It’s not too late to order holiday cards for a look back at what you’ve been up to in 2017. Regardless of what you’re looking for, Basic Invite is making your life easier one party at a time. The best part? Right now Basic Invite is offering 30% off with coupon code: holi30 for an extra special holiday treat.

Celebrate in style (and make sure you tag us so we can see what you create!) this holiday season with Basic Invite!

Hot chocolate bars are the answer to your holiday hostess woes, and today I’m sharing some of my favourite tips for styling the perfect cocoa station! Not only is this my fave time of year, it’s also the best season for decorating. Odds are you’ll be hosting a few holiday gatherings this season, and making sure your home is looking the part can be stressful. If you’re looking for some help with getting your party spaces winter-ready, you should check out Havenly, an amazing online resource connecting real interior designers with people just like you! Regardless of your budget or design know-how, the pros at Havenly can show you the best way to showcase your space for holiday hostessing!

Luckily we’re jumping on the bandwagon for this season’s biggest trend – the hot chocolate bar! Setting up a make-your-own cocoa station is the perfect festive & interactive treat for party guests.

Setting up your own hot chocolate bar is so easy too! All you need are a few supplies, a cozy corner, and our free printable Hot Chocolate Bar sign. I put together a few of my favourite hot chocolate set up staples below, but you can get creative with your own station, or change it up depending on the audience. Having a hot chocolate bar for kids? Why not add some sprinkles or kid-friendly mugs? Having an adult dinner party? Add some alcoholic mixes like Bailey’s or Kahlua.

How To Style Your Own Hot Chocolate Bar:

Mix it up! I love using a variety pieces for serving and styling parties because it adds a touch of the unexpected to your set up. Using a vintage vinegar and oil set for liquid toppings like Bailey’s Irish Cream or peppermint eggnog (for example) looks pretty AND classic! Use old salt and pepper shakers for powders like cinnamon or Oreo crumbs.

Take things to new heights. Don’t have a lot of space available to lay out mugs for the whole family? Why not take advantage of vertical space by using a cake or cupcake stand to display your bar pieces. This tiered rustic stand from Etsy is one of my faves!

Add some colour. I have a soft spot for playful mugs, and these clever alphabet mugs from Indigo are the perfect touch!

Stir it up. Sure you can use regular coffee stirrers (or, let’s be real, spoons) for mixing your hot chocolate, but why not combine the playful with the practical wherever possible? Use candy cane drink stirrers or chocolate spoons, like these ones (or DIY your own!) to add some flavour while you stir.

Treat yo’self. Regular marshmallows are great, but you know what’s even better? SNOWFLAKE MARSHMALLOWS! Add some winter flavour to your beverages with these super cute treats.

Keep it mobile. Whether you’re setting up a hot chocolate bar at a holiday party or just making it a staple in your kitchen for the holidays, having hot chocolate on the go is never a bad idea. DIY favours are the perfect take-out option, like this easy option (just add water!).

Stick with classics. Because Santa mugs will never get old. Don’t want to have a ton of these lying around for the 11 other months of the year? Use one in place of a bowl for your marshmallows, or to hold stir sticks as decor!

Use what you have. Who says you have to keep your bar on the kitchen counter? Take advantage of that old dresser you keep meaning to re-purpose in the garage, or drag out an old sideboard table and keep your hot chocolate station on display AND out of the way!

What do you think? Will you be trying your own hot chocolate bar this holiday season?

Get this printable Halloween cake topper template and make your own spooky treat!

Halloween is around the corner, and that means many of you will be hosting parties this weekend! While I have a well known soft spot for Halloween (remember that time we created TWO Halloween Party Boxes?) this year has been so crazy I’m taking a bit of a breather while working on other projects. While that means I’ll be spending my Halloween party night catching up on some exciting new things it also means I get to live vicariously through you – by making sure you have the best party props possible.

Today’s DIY project is a SUPER easy last minute cake topper to take a regular treat to a spook-tacular dessert!

Now normally I am anti-spider, but I made an exception because it’s the perfect design to add that creepy-level to your party table. Plus, it’s so easy! All you need to make this spider web cake topper is this free printable template, an Xacto knife, and some construction paper. That’s seriously it! I used my Cricut machine to cut the design for me, but you could easily replicate the template with a knife and some patience.

I like to use thick cardstock from Michaels for my cake toppers because they can support their own weight. If you’re using regular construction paper, I’d suggest sizing the template down a bit (mine was about 6″ x 6″) so that there’s less surface to “fold” over on itself. I also used a long skewer to support the more fragile areas, and double as the base for the topper.

What do you think of this year’s cake topper template? Isn’t it super cute! What are you up to this Halloween? I want to hear all about it, so leave me a comment!